American Leadership in the World - President Barack Obama's legacy

President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Paris Agreement on October 5, 2016

International efforts to end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa

Establishment of the Global Health Security Agenda

President Obama Speaks at a Town Hall With Young Leaders of the Americas in Jamaica

National Security and American Values

President Obama on the U.S. Strategy to Defeat ISIL

The Asia Rebalance and 21st Century Opportunity

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

President Obama Visits Hiroshima

Advancing the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific

National and Economic Security in Cyberspace

Development Based on Real Outcomes and Real Lives

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2016

White House Summit on Global Development

Partnering with Africa on Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation

Power Africa Initiative to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Let Girls Learn Initiative

Strength and Resilience at Home

National Preparedness System

Description

American Leadership in the World

When President Obama took office in 2009, America was engaged in two costly wars, faced a global economic crisis, and had a diminished standing with our allies and around the world. The President has refocused and reaffirmed American leadership in the world, recognizing that American strength derives not only from our military power but also our economic vitality, the depth and breadth of our global partnerships, and our values. In doing so, the President has remained relentless in taking action against terrorist networks, while also focusing on key emerging regions and policies that will shape the 21st century.

Historic Diplomacy and Collective Action

Secured a landmark multilateral deal to roll back the Iranian nuclear program and verify that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon

Nuclear physicists, military officials, non-proliferation experts, and more than 100 countries across the globe have all voiced their support for the Iran nuclear deal because it is the best solution available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking military action. Learn mroe about the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Built a historic opening to Cuba, ending a failed policy of over 50 years by re-establishing diplomatic relations and facilitating greater travel, commerce, and people-to-people ties

On December 17, 2014, President Obama announced that he was rejecting the failed, Cold War-era policy era of the past to chart a new course in Cuba. View a timeline of our new course in Cuba.

Watch: West Wing Week 3/25/16 or, “¡Hola, Cuba!”

Led global effort to achieve the Paris Agreement among 196 countries to take real action on climate change that calls for strong transparency, ensuring countries adhere to ambitious emissions reduction goals and setting the world on a course to cut carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases

President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Paris Agreement on October 5, 2016

Learn more about President Obama's historic commitment to protecting the environment and reversing climate change.

Ensured the United States remained the world’s largest donor in humanitarian aid for refugees and displaced persons around the world, safely increased refugees accepted in the United States, and spurred global action with international and private sector partners in response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II

Through Operation Atlantic Resolve and the European Reassurance Initiative, took lasting steps to assure our allies and bolster NATO collective defense

Worked with European and other international partners toward a diplomatic solution for the crisis in Ukraine, enforced sanctions to increase pressure on Russia to cease its efforts to undermine Ukraine’s security and stability, and helped Ukraine implement its reform agenda

Provided the single largest military assistance package in U.S. history to Israel with a 10-year agreement affirming the unbreakable bonds between our countries.

Strengthened global institutions by mobilizing the United Nations with multiple Head-of-State summits, promoting the G-20 as the premier international economic forum, joining the UN Human Rights Council, and making the World Bank and International Monetary Fund more representative

Banned the use of torture, which has since been codified by law

Established clear guidelines, oversight, and accountability for counterterrorism operations — including with unmanned drones — and increased transparency regarding U.S. use of military force against terrorist targets

Reformed how the United States conducts intelligence collection to strengthen oversight, enhance privacy protections, protect civil liberties, and ensure national security professionals have the tools needed to keep Americans safe

Engaged in sustained diplomacy to safely lower the population of Guantanamo from 242 detainees in 2008 to under 60 in 2016, despite Congressional efforts to block the costly facility’s responsible closure

Improved the organization of federal efforts to bring home Americans held hostage overseas and provide support to their families

Combated the rise of radicalization by empowering community-led efforts and sustained engagement between credible, moderate voices and those most susceptible to hateful rhetoric on the platforms where violent extremist ideology is spread

Promoted diversity and inclusion as an indispensable asset and strategic imperative in the United States’ national security workforce of more than three million dedicated military and civilian personnel

The Asia Rebalance and 21st Century Opportunity

Negotiated and concluded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-country agreement representing nearly 40 percent of global economic output, to increase American trade with the fastest growing region in the world, based on an open, transparent, and level playing field

November 16, 2015: Fact Sheet: Advancing the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific

Modernized alliances with Japan and South Korea

Concluded new defense agreements with Australia and the Philippines that allow for the forward deployment of U.S. military assets for security cooperation and rapid response throughout the Asia-Pacific region

Forged a 21st century partnership with India that includes closer cooperation on development and trade; defense and security; and clean energy and combating climate change

Strengthened the Asia-Pacific region’s institutional architecture through direct presidential engagements in multilateral fora like ASEAN, EAS, and APEC to reinforce their important role in establishing a rules-based order with common norms and principles

Supported Burma’s historic transition to democracy by establishing a U.S. ambassador in Rangoon, increasing assistance, closely monitoring the first successful elections resulting in a peaceful transfer of power in Burma’s history, and lifting sanctions to bring Burma into the global economy

September 15, 2016: Watch: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reflects on her first visit to the U.S. as an elected leader of Burma

National and Economic Security in Cyberspace

Built a national strategy to raise the level of our cybersecurity; deter, disrupt, and interfere with malicious cyber activity aimed at the United States or our allies; and respond effectively to and recover from cyber incidents, the capstone of which is the Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP)

Instituted a cybersecurity framework to raise the level of cybersecurity in our public, private, and consumer sectors to empower Americans to take better control of their digital security

Directed the creation of a nonpartisan Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, including experts from the public and private sectors and academia, who assessed the state of cybersecurity in the United States and recommended bold, actionable steps to bolster our security in today's digital world

December 2, 2016: Statement by the President on the Report of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity